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Galt residents press council to ease rules on boats, RVs after code-enforcement notices
Summary
Multiple residents told the Galt City Council they received notices to remove trailers, boats or commercial vehicles from private driveways and urged the council to revisit a blanket ordinance; interim city manager asked council to direct staff to agendize the item for a March meeting.
Dozens of Galt residents told the City Council at its February meeting they had recently received code-enforcement notices requiring removal of trailers, boats or work trucks from private driveways and asked the council to consider changing the ordinance to allow case-by-case exceptions.
The speakers said the notices are unfair to homeowners who maintain their vehicles, cannot afford storage and believe driveway parking does not create public-safety hazards. “Our trailers have been here for years and years with no problems,” said Cody McMillan, who told the council he and other residents collected more than 300 petition signatures. “This is a small town, we should respect people’s property.”
Why it matters: Councilmembers and staff said the issue affects many residents across neighborhoods and intersects with city code, public-safety concerns and enforcement practices. Interim City Manager Chris Reis recommended staff bring the matter back as a properly agendized item so the council can receive a full presentation from code enforcement and hear additional public comment. Reis suggested the item be scheduled for a March council meeting; he and council indicated support for returning the item for formal discussion.
What residents said: Several speakers described receiving written notices without prior in-person contact and asked that enforcement be handled case-by-case rather than by a blanket prohibition. David Givens said he searched the municipal code and found the city does already allow some vehicles in side or back yards when conditions are met; he asked the council to replace a “blanket prohibition” with targeted rules that address blight and safety—examples he offered included requiring approved parking surfaces and operability/maintenance standards.
Others described economic hardship from the notices. “We can’t afford another $150 a month payment for storage,” McMillan said. Efren Gonzalez (transcript name: Zephyrin, junior gondolas) described parking a work truck used for his livelihood and asked for a staff contact; a councilmember asked staff to follow up with him after the meeting.
Council and staff response: Reis told the council that, in prior practice, council typically hears public comment and later directs staff whether to agendize matters for full discussion; he recommended a staff report on code enforcement and related ordinance language so the council could consider changes collectively. Mayor Farmer and other members agreed to ask staff to return the subject as an agendized item, targeting the second March meeting if schedules allow. No ordinance change was adopted at the meeting; council gave direction for staff to bring the topic back for debate and formal action.
Next steps and context: Staff will prepare a council agenda report that could include current parking/code provisions, enforcement practices, possible ordinance language for case-by-case exceptions or objective standards (for example, required hard surfaces, maintenance requirements and restrictions on blocking sidewalks or driveways), and estimated enforcement costs or staffing implications. The council did not set a final date but discussed aiming for the second March meeting.
Ending: Residents who raised the issue said they will return to the future agendized item to present suggested language and that they continue collecting community feedback. Councilmembers said they want more staff detail before taking ordinance action.
